A NURSE has been suspended from the nursing register after he slapped colleagues’ bottoms and talked about their “plump breasts”.

David John Bullock admitted the offences against six victims, which included resting his hand on a colleague’s bottom, talking about his sex life and saying one had a “really fit body”.

On another occasion, in reply to a colleague’s frustrated comment during a hectic shift, he implied he would consider having sex with her after work.

The offences were committed while he worked at the main theatres of Colchester Hospital between 2014 and 2017 as a band six nurse. He was sacked in 2017.

In a report to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Mr Bullock said: “I have admitted to all the charges laid before me. I acknowledge that there is a pattern of behaviour that is unacceptable and I fully accept this.

“I now fully recognise these behaviours and actions are completely unacceptable and will never happen again.

“I was previously a tactile person but now feel cautious and mindful of the impact of my tactile behaviour on other people and colleagues.

“I take on board any feedback given to me by my colleagues about my conduct. I have become sensitive to their feelings and committed to maintaining professional boundaries.

“Based on the counselling and various training attended so far, I am fully aware of the inappropriate behaviour towards colleagues being an extreme form of crossing boundaries and a serious violation of professional responsibility.”

The offences came to light in 2016 when one of his victims, a healthcare worker, reported Mr Bullock’s actions to the Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, which launched an investigation.

She said the incidents had left her “uncomfortable, anxious, tearful and distressed” and she dreaded going into work.

The trust gave Mr Bullock a final warning for two years and he was told to carry out an action plan within six months to rectify his behaviour, including various courses.

But a second investigation was launched by the trust in 2017 when several more colleagues came forward about incidents after his return.

Mr Bullock admitted them all and was sacked.

At a Nursing and Midwifery Council hearing, Bullock, who has been working as an agency nurse since leaving the hospital, was suspended from the register for six months and is unable to work as a nurse.

A review will be held at the end of the period.

Despite the findings, the council said they found no evidence Mr Bullock’s actions were sexually motivated or that patients were at risk from his behaviour.

A spokeswoman for the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which now looks after Colchester Hospital, said: “As with any investigation, the person is suspended whilst a full investigation takes place.

“Mr Bullock was dismissed by the trust on September 26, 2017 following our own investigation.”